Uranium isotopes in groundwater from the continental intercalaire aquifer in Algerian Tunisian Sahara (Northern Africa)

The disequilibrium between ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U is commonly used as a tracer of groundwater flow. This paper aims to identify uranium contents and uranium isotopic disequilibria variation in groundwater sampled from deep Continental Intercalaire aquifer (southern Algeria and Tunisia). Large variations in both U contents (0.006–3.39 ppb) and ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios (0.4–15.38) are observed. We conduct a first assessment in order to verify whether the results of our investigation support and complete previous hydrogeological and isotopic studies. The dissolved U content and ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio data were plotted on a two-dimensional diagram that was successfully utilized on sharing the CI aquifer into different compartments submitted to different oxidising/reducing conditions and leads also to distinguished two preferential flow paths in the Nefzaoua/Chott Fejej discharge area. Uranium isotopes disequilibrium indicate that ranium chemistry is mainly controlled by water–rock interaction enhanced by long residence time recognised for this aquifer.     

Small Populations and Offspring Sex-Ratio Deviations in Eagles

Abstract:  Stochastic variation of sex ratio has long been appreciated as a potential factor driving small populations to extinction, but it is not the only source of sex-ratio bias in small populations. We examined whether some consequences of sex allocation could affect extinction risk in small populations of size-dimorphic birds such as eagles. We report variations in sex ratio at fledging from a long-term study of a declining population of Spanish Imperial Eagles ( Aquila adalberti ). Nestling sex-ratio deviation apparently was mediated by age of breeders, whereas territory quality had no obvious effect. Adult–adult pairs produced the same proportion of both sexes in high- or low-density situations, but pairs with at least one member in nonadult plumage class produced more males. As the population declined over a period of years, the proportion of breeders with immature plumage increased; consequently, the proportion of fledgling males increased. However, when population density was high, the proportion of breeders with immature plumage decreased and more female offspring were produced. This relationship between population density, composition of breeder age, and fledgling sex ratios allowed us to make predictions of extinction risk due to nonstochastic deviations of sex ratio in small, declining populations. In the study population, on the basis of the Vortex simulation results, an estimated reduction of 42.5% in predicted mean time to extinction was attributed solely to biased sex ratio.     

Toxicity testing with luminescent bacteria – Characterization of an automated method for the combined assessment of acute and chronic effects

The luminescent bacteria test according to EN ISO 11348 is frequently applied in (eco) toxicity testing and is applicable for a huge variety of environmental and industrial samples. A big disadvantage of this method is the very short exposure time, which is expressed in a low sensitivity in regard to substances with a delayed effect. Chronic effects, i.e. interference with cell growth, cannot be assessed with this conventional standard method. The goal of this research was to develop an automated testing system for long term toxicity towards the luminescent bacteria Vibrio fischeri by implementing microtitration-based instrumentation. The optimized method, hereinafter referred to as “kinetic luminescent bacteria test”, can be described as a miniaturized combination of the conventional short-term luminescence inhibition test according to EN ISO 11348 and the Photobacterium phosphoreum growth inhibition test (DIN 38412-37). The validation procedure included the evaluation of six reference compounds (3,4-Dichloroaniline, 3,5-Dichlorophenol, Chloramphenicol, Streptomycin sulfate, Potassium dichromate, Zinc sulfate heptahydrate) and three different endpoints that are acute luminescence inhibition (acute LI) after 30 min, chronic luminescence inhibition (chronic LI) after 24 h and growth inhibition (GI) after 14 h. The optimized method allows the assessment of acute and chronic effects within one test, by what a misinterpretation of the toxicity of substances with delayed bacterial toxicity can be prevented, without abandoning most of the advantages of the conventional short-term test. Therefore, the kinetic luminescent bacteria test is exceptional as an initial screening test for environmental samples or substances with unknown (eco) toxicological characteristics.     

循环流化床锅炉脱硫的试验研究

本研究是在1台75t/hCFB锅炉上进行炉内添加石灰石脱硫工业实验,得出燃烧高硫无烟煤时Ca/S、床温、煤中含硫等对脱硫效率的影响。在对实验结果进行分析的基础上,提出了燃用高硫煤的循环流化床(CFB)锅炉实际应用炉内脱硫最佳Ca/S和最佳控制参数。     

厌氧氨氧化菌的培养与推流式反应器氨厌氧工艺

采用推流式固定化絮体生物反应器培养出高活性的厌氧氨氧化(ANAMMOX)红色颗粒污泥.在稳定运行后,反应器的NH₄⁺-N和NO₂^--N去除率皆大于98%,TN平均去除率为86%,NO₃^--N的生成率约为14%,TN去除负荷达2.56kg/(m³·d).同时考察了进水基质比例对反应器性能的影响,并用扫描电镜观察了颗粒结构.     

生物表面活性剂茶皂素离子浮选去除废水中镉离子

对生物表面活性剂茶皂素作为离子浮选剂去除废水中镉离子的能力进行了研究,对影响去除率和富集比的物理因素(包括溶液初始pH值、C茶皂素CCd2+(摩尔比)、离子强度(NaCl和NaNO3))和动力学参数(包括浮选时间和通气量)进行了考察.C茶皂素CCd2+=2∶1,pH为6.0,通气量为0.15L·min-1时得到了最佳去除效果,去除率达到85.87%,Cd2+的富集比达到19.43;而在C茶皂素CCd2+=2∶1,pH为8.0,通气量0.15L·min-1时,Cd2+去除率达到70.97%,富集比高达32.17.随着溶液离子强度的增强,镉离子去除率和富集比显著降低.泡沫浓缩液中加碱回收Cd2+,回收率为79.62%.     

超小型液体旋流分离器的研究

这是用超小型液体旋流分离器从水中分离固体粒子的性能实验。在旋流分离器下向流排出口内插入一个圆锥流量调节器。实验中使用的固体粒子为玻璃球 ,平均粒子径为 4 84 μm。通过实验发现了装有圆锥流量调节器旋流分离器有较好的性能 ,与普通型的相比 ,其压力损失约减少 7% ,分离效率增加 10 %。     

437个火电厂项目环境影响宏观分析及对策研究

对2004-2005年上报国家环境保护总局环境工程评估中心的437个火电项目环境影响和宏观对策分4种方案进行了分析和探讨.结果表明:方案Ⅰ和方案Ⅱ的能源弹性系数分别为3.6和2.2,对环境、资源影响较大,不利于可持续发展;方案Ⅲ能源弹性系数为0.5,对环境、资源影响小,符合可持续发展,但目前难以实现;方案Ⅳ能源弹性系数为0.8,对环境、资源影响较小,按方案Ⅳ模式发展也有一定难度,但经过艰苦努力可以实现.分析了火电发展对煤炭资源和环境等方面的影响,并提出应尽快将我国能源弹性系数恢复到正常值,统筹火电厂规划,坚持经济发展模式的转变、节能降耗、调整产业结构等建议.      

水处理滤料润湿性的实验研究

基于Washburn方程用亲油亲水比(LHR)比较了无烟煤、沸石和石英砂滤料对油的润湿选择性,并对其表面结构进行了表征.结果表明,无烟煤、沸石和石英砂的LHR值依次为2.41、0.64和0.65,沸石和石英砂的亲水性明显好于无烟煤,而无烟煤的亲油性好于沸石和石英砂.这主要取决于滤料的表面化学组成,同时与其表面形貌有一定的关系,与SEM、XPS、FTIR分析结果基本吻合.